Shipston Leisure Centre is working with Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership, a community led charity, to implement a range of community activity projects in Shipston-on-Stour, supporting older adults across the community to become more mobile.
The Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership secured the funding, now totalling £10,000, from Sport England and housing association, L&Q, after successfully bidding to extend the successful programme of activity, which began in November 2021.
Shipston Leisure Centre is managed by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council.
Aimed at older adults within the local community, the wide range of activities aims to encourage people who were previously inactive, due to lockdowns or injury, to start moving again.
Offering a range of activities to support mobility including seated exercise classes, new age kurling and Pilates for complete beginners, the programme has become increasingly popular within the local community.
The additional funding has allowed Everyone Active to continue the activities at community venues across Shipston-on-Stour, generating positive outcomes for health and wellbeing across this target group.
The programme also encourages inter-generational activity through its work with local schools. Local walking quiz activities encourage children to become more active during the school holidays, whilst spending time with older family members and learning more about the history of the town they live in.
Alex Fuoco-Lang, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "It's always a challenge to break down barriers to participation, particularly for this age group. We know innovative ideas for activities are key and we're delighted to be able to continue delivering them.
"The project has allowed us to work with a range of partners including Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership, L&Q Group, WCAVA (Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action), Stratford-on-Avon District Council, and Sport England. We're looking forward to continuing to strengthen these partnerships and working with them on similar projects going forward."
Vanessa Compton, who led the Stour Health and Well-being Partnership delivery team, said: "We were delighted to receive this funding and the opportunity to work with Everyone Active and Stratford-on-Avon District Council to deliver the project. We decided to name it the Dr Sue Pritchard Memorial Challenge in honour of a greatly respected local doctor who had always recognised the importance of health and wellbeing for the local community."
Cllr Ian Shenton, Environment and Climate Change Portfolio, with responsibility for Leisure said: "I congratulate everyone in gaining this award of £10,000 as this demonstrates how successful partnership working can be in obtaining funding for what is a very important objective, to get previously inactive older adults active again.
"As exercise has been shown to improve health and well-being for all ages it is essential that we encourage as many older adults as possible to take part in this great initiative which also encourages children to be more active by spending time with and encouraging older adults to exercise more. Taking this out into the community by using venues closer to older residents is a great example of an innovative approach to promoting."
For further information please visit: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/shipston-leisure-centre/
